Aerial Operations team trains for Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Kevin Chandler
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  As various organizations in the 97th Air Mobility Wing work long hours this summer to prepare for fall inspections, six highly motivated Airmen are also preparing to excel in a series of cutthroat competitions next month. This team will represent the aerial port function at the 2009 Air Mobility Command Airlift Rodeo.

The six Airmen, all from the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Aerial Operations Flight, are enduring rigorous physical workouts and tirelessly improving their job-specific skills in preparation for the six events they will compete in as part of the Rodeo team.

"It makes for some long days," said Master Sgt. Ryan Pawelek, "we still have our regular mission to accomplish."

"We try to make it fun, to keep from over-exerting our bodies," added Tech. Sgt. Nolan Jones.

The team is training for a variety of events, including driving courses for 10K forklifts and 60K Tunner cargo loaders, a grueling four mile long challenge course and an engine running onload.

The ERO event is one of the most daunting and important events in the competition. The team must complete the onloading and offloading of cargo from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft flawlessly in 12 minutes or less.

"We only have 12 minutes to safely do what they do downrange in an hour and a half," explained Senior Airman Kenneth Stevens.

Training for such a demanding task requires cooperation from several base agencies. The team trains with loadmasters from the 58th Airlift Squadron, utilizing the simulators when those aircrews are flying training missions. Additionally, the group uses the Traffic Management Office loading docks to practice driving vehicles with trailers on and off the aircraft quickly and safely.

Preparations also involve cooperation with other bases. One event requires participants to use GATES software to track passengers and cargo, something these Airmen are rarely exposed to in their daily jobs at Altus. To better learn the software, the Airmen are travelling to Travis Air Force Base, Calif. for instruction. In return, the Travis Rodeo team will get a hand training for the ERO event.

"We all help each other," Sergeant Pawelek said.

Success in all the events hinges on the ability of each team to work together and help one another. The Altus team uses this concept in all their preparations. They run four to six miles as a group, take core training and spin classes at the fitness center, swim laps at the base pool and even participate in community outreach activities as a cohesive unit. 

"We are only as strong as our slowest man," Sergeant Jones explained.

That teamwork and conditioning will likely pay off during the combat challenge event. The four mile course consists of numerous stations where team members must reassemble M-16 rifles, run and push a Humvee while wearing their gas masks, administer self-aid buddy care, answer questions from the Airmen's Manual and carry igloos and pallet dunnage. Teams also complete as many push-ups and sit-ups as possible when the event starts as a means of breaking any ties at the finish.

Along with solid teamwork, the team also has experience to help guide their preparation. Two of the six members are veterans of the last Rodeo competition.

"I know the time limits and how the course is set up," Airman Stevens said, "in my head (during practice) I'm going through the course."

"When you're there, the adrenaline is going," added Senior Airman William Brem.

All the team members hope that adrenaline, along with the hours spent training, will be just what they need to bring the trophy back to Southwest Oklahoma.


NOTE: The aerial port members of the Altus AFB Rodeo Team are Master Sgt. Ryan Pawelek, Tech. Sgt. Nolan Jones, Senior Airman Kenneth Stevens, Senior Airman William Brem, Senior Airman David Thompson and Airman First Class Augustin Ortega.